Nathaniel haskell



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NATHANIEL 'HASKELL, .OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HIMSELF AND JOSEPH F. STEEN, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 101,009, dated March 22. 1870.

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The modulouforrod to in these Letters Paths and making part of the same To all jwhonr itmay concern Be itknowrrthat I, Narrramen Basil-urn, of the city and county of Sandrrancisco, State of Oalifirrnia, have invented a new and improved Method or Process for Extracting the Metals ii oni their Ores; and I do hereby declare that the following description distinctly and correctly describes said method or process, giving such directions and explanations that others skilled in the art or science to which it -most nearly appertains can accomplish the same withoutf'urther invention or experiment.

' My. invention relates to an improved method or process to be employed in extracting metals, and more particularly copper, from their ores, without the ne cessity of handling the orcs after they have been taken from the mine, thus enabling the operator to extract the metals at a very small cost, and making it possible to work ores of a very low gmde profitably.

To carry my process into operation, the ore is taken .from the mine and placed in heaps in some suitable location where the ground is not porous, preferably upon a hillside, or some spot where 4hr: lay of the ground is upon an incline.

The heaps of ore are made of suitable and convenierrt sizes, no particular quantity being required in each pile, for the proper working of the after-process; but the larger the amount of ore in each pile the cheaper it can he worked.

1 then dig a ditch or trench around the heaps of ore, and too short distance below them, where it J terminates in a large reservoir or series of tubs.

Water is then led, by means of pipes or otherwise, upon the pile, and passed slowly through the heap of ore, so as to saturate every part, the surrounding trench or ditch collecting the water and conveying it into the reservoir or tubs.

When a sufficient quantity of water has been passed through the heap of ore to fill the reservoir it is shut off, and the ore allowed to stand exposed to the action of the atmosphere.

In passing through the ore-pile the water dissolves the sulphates of coppergancl a weak solution of copper and sulphuricacid results, from which metallic copper can be produced by precipitation in the usual way.

After the ore-pile has remained exposed to the nilfor'threc or four days,-the water in the reservoir tubs is then pumped or otherwise conveyed back, andagain slowly passed through the pile, the acid in the water attacking the ore, and greatly aiding in its disintcgratiop.

This process of rc-drcnchiug the pile with the water which has previously been used is contirrueihat intervals of three or four days, until, by the united action of the-acid solution and oxidation by exposure to the atmosphere, all of the copper has been extracted and carried ofl' with the water, to be precipitated in the usual way at any stage of the process desired.

Alter the water has beer'i passed through theore two or three times an artificial heatwill be generated in the pile, which greatly assistsjthc process of disintegration.

Separated-and the metals extracted with very little trouble and with great profit.

What I claim is- 1.- Extracting metals from crude ores without roasting, by passing water at intervals through the ore-pile, substantially as above described.

1 2. Introducing the poles of'a galvanic battery into the solution rcsultingti'onr the passage of water through the ore-pile, for the purpose of electroplating and manufacturing, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

NAT. HASKELL. [In s.]

W itnesscs: 

